Basildon's notorious Fortune of War roundabout is set to stay - for the time being at least.
Highways bosses said today it would cost more than £1 million to "straighten out" the A127.
The 'roundabout' stopped serving as a roundabout in 1994 after earning itself the reputation for being one of the most notorious accident blackspots in Essex.
In one accident a driver fell asleep at the wheel, lost control of his car and miraculously escaped alive after his car smashed into a chevron sign, flipped over the central reservation and landed on top of a car parked in the Fortune of War pub car park.
A £30,000 adaptation to the roundabout stopped drivers turning right across the A127 into Laindon High Road and was considered an experiment at the time.
However, while drivers complained of congestion the roundabout still caused problems for lorry drivers.
After the changes many high-sided vehicles were tipped over or grounded by the sudden bend in the road.
Nick McCullagh, district manager for highways in south Essex, said any alterations would cost more than £1 million.
He said: "People have asked why we do not 'straighten out' the roundabout but it would be very expensive.
"BT and British Gas have their cables there. It would involve a seven-figure sum and there are other more worthwhile projects to spend the money on.
"Naturally we will continue to monitor it."
Despite being considered an experiment, Mr McCullagh said the works had been a success. New road markings and lighting have reduced the number of accidents on the roundabout.
He said straightening out the roundabout could resurrect the accident tally of the 1980s by encouraging motorists to speed.
He said: "The fact that traffic has to slow down during a long journey creates a bit of interest. We have got no immediate plans to change that because the advantage at the moment is that drivers have got a reason to slow down."
Staying the same - Fortune of War roundabout
Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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